MORE MISSION MEMORIES.......

Today was my cousin's missionary farewell. She leaves on Wednesday for the MTC and then she will be off to San Diego/Mormom Battalion Visitor's Center. This along with the events from my previous post has caused me to look back on my mission and those 18 months of my life.

There are many things that I don't miss about those days, but I do miss feeling the spirit so strong 24 hours a day/7 days a week, having the time scheduled out to give my full attention to studying the gospel, and having a 100% focus on the gospel, etc.

Lindsay's talk was fabulous!! (I am always jealous of people that are such eloquent speakers/teachers). I have had LOTS of practice and even though they say it gets easier with practice, speaking in public/giving a lesson still makes me nervous and that makes me sooo mad! --not fair--

While I am on the topic of "not fair," . . . . . . . . I hate every picture I have of me on my mission. For starters....I don't think I am the most photogenic person, then add, hair does not cooperate with the humidity, shoes/clothes/everything grows mold in Brazil, my wardrobe was made up of the "frumpy missionary jumpers" with Doc Martins (the standard missionary uniform before the movement to change the "sister missionary" image). I bet all of her pictures will be fabulous! She also won't have to deal with any of the wonderful issues of a 3rd world country.

Don't get me wrong....I loved Brazil and know that I was called to that mission for a reason. I grew and learned so much from that experience and am really excited for Lindsay's adventure.

MISSION FRIENDS

One of the blessings that has come into my life because of my decision to serve a mission is the many friends that I made in the MTC and while in Brazil. Although I do not keep in touch with everyone, I love any chance I have to get together with anyone from the mission and reminisce about that time in my life.

A couple of weeks ago, 6 of us met for breakfast. It is great that even though we are all so different and are all at different places in our lives we get a long so well and have so much fun together.
I also just went to dinner at TUCANOS with one of my companions. At least once a year we meet for dinner at a Brazilian Churrasco to speak a little portuguese, eat our weight in food (have you been to one of these places?), reminisce about mission memories and catch up on the "goings-on" in each others lives.

As you can tell from these pictures, the last thing I should be doing is eating at a Brazilian Churrascaria, but it is only once a year, right?

Thanks "sisters." I love you all.

VIVA LAS VEGAS

I just returned home from 3 days in Vegas with a former roommate. The trip was organized by a few SLC singles (including Don Osmond, son of Donny) to attend the Donny & Marie show at the Flamingo in Vegas.
We arrived in Vegas on Friday afternoon after having stopped in St. George for lunch at the Pizza Factory and a little bit of shopping at the outlets. Upon arriving, we went and did some people watching on the strip. Among the many Elvis's we saw, we even ran into Michael Jackson. He asked us where were were from and when we told him Utah he asked if we were Mormon. He then showed us his CTR ring. Who knew that MJ was LDS??? He was a little bit creepy, I'm not going to lie. Did Michael actually wear bright red lipstick??










We finished up the night with dinner at the "In 'N Out" that was right across the street from our Hotel
We spent Saturday at our hotel reading and relaxing by the pool. Soaking up some much needed VITAMIN D.

Then it was time for the big show. I am not as big of a fan as my friend, but they did put on a very entertaining show. I don't know how Marie dances around like she does all night in those heels she was wearing. For being "older" those 2 can still move. Afterwards, our group had a picture taken with Donny & Marie. (I can post it when I get it).

Too bad we don't have a few more days to play at the pool. That job thing always seems to get in the way.

A VISIT TO THE TWIN CITIES

Last year my sister moved from SLC to Minneapolis for her husband to do a 2-year fellowship in Pediatric Dentistry.

My mom and I went back to spend a couple of days with them and to see the sites of the Twin Cities.

Although I wish the trip would have been longer, we had a great time. Here are some of the highlights....

The Riverwalk along the Mississippi River is only a couple of blocks from their apartment. ( I am looking "hot," I know!!)

We got our exercise in with a 3+ mile walk around one of the 10,000 lakes (Lake Calhoun). It was beautiful and right in the middle of the city.

I don't really know what it is or what it means, but apparently we had to see and have our picture taken by the giant spoon and cherry??

We went one of the last Twins games to be held at the Metrodome before their new field is completed. They were playing the Texas Rangers. Dinner was a "dome dog" (large hot dog with a bag of potato chips). Here is a picture of me with the catcher, Joe Mauer.

We went to the Minnesota State Fair where EVERYTHING was deep fried....anything you can imagine. We sampled many of the different food items, but my favorite were the fried cheese curds or the battered and deep fried Snickers bar.

Although I am NOT a shopper, what is a visit to Minneapolis without a stop at the MALL OF AMERICA?

Thanks Deb for showing us a good time!!

FREE STUFF

A while back I ran across a website, SPARKPEOPLE.COM. Not only does it have some great healthy recipes, exercise ideas, etc. but it allows you to track your weight, exercise as well as the the calories, etc. of everything you eat. It allows me to do pretty much what I had been paying to do with WeightWatchers, but SPARKPEOPLE is 100% FREE. I don't use it everyday, and I don't use all of the features, but I really like some of them.

I get emails from them everyday. Some I read and some I don't. A couple of weeks ago they were doing a give-away everyday for 2 weeks (heart rate monitor, cookbooks, exercise clothes,etc.). I entered everyday, not thinking that I would win anything, but I had nothing to lose, right? Well, they announced all of the winners on 8/28 and what do you know.....I was the winner of the GRAND PRIZE for the FITNESS Magazine giveaway. I just received my package in the mail today. Nothing too fantastic, but who doesn't like to win FREE stuff??
Along with a Free Subscription to FITNESS Magazine, I got a hat, umbrella, apron, notebook, massager, and cosmetic bag. (The other 2 fitness magazine winners just got the subscription).

**I am not trying to recruit people for this site, but feel free to check it out if you are interested.